Choosing a Major: 6 Tips For Guiding Your Student

By Amy Baldwin, Ed.D.

Every parent wants their student to find their “calling” and click with a major that will help pave the way to a career. Students want that, too! But the process of declaring a major can be scary as well as exhilarating. “Am I making the right choice?” they wonder. “Will I be able to find a job after graduation?”

Luckily, there are stressreducing ways to support and guide students who are at this juncture.

1. Relax. No need to make this experience more fraught than it already is. Remember that it’s normal for the journey from major to career to twist and turn. Make an effort to keep things in perspective and share this attitude with your student. 2. Have them reflect on their past to figure out their

future. Encourage your student to reflect on what they liked when they were younger, what they did in their spare time for fun, and what activities they participated in and why. Their past holds clues about the kinds of majors that might interest them. Someone who counseled their friends through difficult times may find themselves interested in psychology or social work. An athlete might gravitate to sports management…or sports medicine.

Nearly one-third of incoming UO students are undecided about their majors.

Working with an academic advisor will help them stay on track. Advisors in the Office of Academic Advising can help students transition to the university, explore their major options, and decide on a path. If your student is deciding on their major or contemplating a major change, encourage them to call 541-346-3211 or go to 101 Oregon Hall to schedule an appointment.

3. Encourage them to focus on what they want to learn, not what sounds good. The

best way to erase self-doubt is to find a subject they like and that will help them build transferrable skills.

Ask what kinds of classes interest them the most and which classes challenge them to think and grow. A student who says they want to major in business “so my parents will leave me alone” is not a student who will be happy with their choice long term. 4. Suggest they compare

degree plans. Reading through the course catalog (available on the university website) is another way to narrow their choices. If your student is choosing between economics and education, for example, suggest they read through the degree requirements to see which plan appeals to them more and also browse the course descriptions.

They’ll spend a lot of time in their major courses and should be intrigued by the topics that await them in that department. 5. Suggest they interview recent college graduates.

Some of the best advice about college majors comes from recent graduates. New grads are likely to tell your student that, in general, the skills they acquired in college (e.g., critical thinking, written communication, appreciation for diversity) are more important than the content knowledge they gained from their major. At the very least, their advice may lower the pressure to make a “right choice.”

What if my student wants to change their major?

Students change majors for a variety of reasons and it is perfectly normal. But it can still be worrisome to parents, who wonder if their student will be able to graduate on time. In addition to discussing what led them to this new direction (was it a single fabulous course or professor? a new career goal?), here are questions you can ask to help your student make the best decision:

• How many additional courses do you need to take? The earlier the change is made, the less likely your student will need to take lots of additional courses. • Will you need to take more credit hours per term or take summer classes to stay on track? In some cases, an additional course per term or a couple of classes over the summer may be all that’s needed to graduate in four years. • What other requirements does the new degree plan include? Some degree plans require internships or practicums that must be taken into consideration.